Debates of June 13th, 2000

Derek Lee Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments recently made by the government.

Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committee, a list of which is attached.

Jim Peterson for the Minister of Finance

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-38, an act to establish the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada and to amend certain acts in relation to financial institutions.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Garry Breitkreuz Yorkton—Melville, SK

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-489, an act to amend the Access to Information Act (cabinet confidences).

Mr. Speaker, in June 1999 the government used the provision for total exclusion of cabinet confidences under section 69 of the Access to Information Act to keep 172 pages of gun registry budget information a state secret.

In September the government used the cabinet confidences exclusion again to hide from the public a 115 page report on the economic impact of the gun registry. That was enough for me and I knew the law had to be changed.

The purpose of this bill is to make certain amendments to the act as recommended by the information commissioner in his 1996 report, The Access to Information Act and the Cabinet Confidences: A Discussion of New Approaches. The information commissioner was kind enough to recommend changes to an earlier draft of this bill.

This bill makes cabinet confidences mandatory exemptions as opposed to exclusions. This results in the withholding of information and documents that are considered cabinet confidences being subject to the independent review under the act, rather than the entire act being inapplicable to them. The bill also excludes from the exemption documents that refer to but do not reveal the substance of cabinet confidences.

Among other safeguards, this bill would require that requests for cabinet confidences be handled only by officers who have received the appropriate security clearance.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Wendy Lill Dartmouth, NS

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to rise in the House and present over 600 signatures from my community of Dartmouth.

The people of Dartmouth are concerned that the Liberals have ignored the top priority of Canadians in the 2000 budget by giving only 2% for health care, and that the federal government is now only paying 13.5% of the health care costs leading to shortages of nurses, hospital beds and emergency spaces in our hospitals.

The people of Dartmouth want to see an immediate injection of federal money back into our health care system bringing it up to 25% of funding immediately, and also, to implement home care programs and a national program for prescription drugs. They want to stop for profit hospitals and federal funding restored for health care.

Gérard Asselin Charlevoix, QC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am tabling in the House today a petition signed by 5,400 constituents in the riding of Charlevoix.

Given that the proposed change to the limits of the economic region for employment insurance purposes in the federal riding of Charlevoix would have dreadful consequences for the affected population, and that this proposal does not follow the employment insurance regulations on the homogeneity of the work market and the bordering regions, the petitioners call on the Parliament to maintain the status quo, so that the riding of Charlevoix can still be part of the former administrative region of northern Quebec.

Pierrette Venne Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table in the House today a petition from constituents of my riding of Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert.

The petitioners call on parliament to allocate sufficient funds to research into alternative energy sources so that, in the near future, Canadians would no longer be forced to turn to oil as a main energy source.

Antoine Dubé Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, since the session is almost over, I would like to table a series of five petitions on different issues.

A first petition containing about 125 signatures was sent to me on Bill C-20. The petitioners wish for the withdrawal of this bill.

Antoine Dubé Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition containing about one hundred names and dealing with drinking and driving.

The petitioners call on the government to amend the Criminal Code to toughen up the law.

Antoine Dubé Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition on collective bargaining by rural route mail couriers.

Antoine Dubé Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition containing about 200 signatures. The petitioners condemn the excessive gasoline prices.

Antoine Dubé Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition containing about 50 signatures from petitioners asking for pay equity for all workers.

I wanted to do my duty as a member of parliament by presenting these petitions from my fellow citizens.